Best UK Hippopotamus enclosure

Best UK Hippopotamus enclosure?

  • Total voters
    31
  • Poll closed .
So you are suggesting Longleat has higher standards of welfare than ZSL? I very much doubt it. Have you seen where the Hippos are kept in winter when the lake freezes over? Have you or anyone else seen their indoor accommodation? This honestly isn't a personal dig at you but a ? against everyone who looks at that lake and thinks how wonderful it is! There is a bigger picture here as there always is with safari parks, particularly Longleat!!
 
I wasn't comparing one enclosure against another, nor comparing any particular zoo's welfare practices against another. Just saying in general that a better enclosure provides increased welfare for the animal and I'd pick that over better visibility.

I agree that having a better enclosure does not form the entirety of an animal's welfare though.
 
Benosaurus said:
I wasn't comparing one enclosure against another, nor comparing any particular zoo's welfare practices against another. Just saying in general that a better enclosure provides increased welfare for the animal and I'd pick that over better visibility.

I agree that having a better enclosure does not form the entirety of an animal's welfare though.
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That's fair enough then, I just don't think Longleat's set up necessarily means their welfare is better and in this case I think there is definitely a?
 

Found an old episode of Animal Park (filmed at Longleat) on YouTube. 44minutes in is a bit about the hippos :)
 
zoosafari123 said:

Found an old episode of Animal Park (filmed at Longleat) on YouTube. 44minutes in is a bit about the hippos :)
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The fact lion cubs shows as soon as I click on this means I can go no further, Welfare is certainly not Longleat's strong point!! Look back on Longleat annual threads if you don't understand my comment!! They are a disgrace
 
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When judging enclosures etc never forget what happens to a lot of these African animals (for important reasons in winter) due to seasonality changes. Always look at every angle.
 
This may be one of the only groups where France have the edge over the UK. In terms of common hippos:

(Beauval)

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And in terms of Pygmy hippos:

(Doue)

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(Beauval):

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Admittedly, these aren't an entirely fair representation of all France has to offer, but Planete Sauvage and CERZA both have excellent enclosures for hippos and pygmy hippos respectively.
 
Pertinax said:
Most of our Hippos live in slurry pits for water. I think Chester perhaps is the only place that might one day build something similar for Hippo.
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Completely agree. UK Common hippo exhibits are incredibly archaic and outdated both in thought and design. I’m guessing filtration costs would be the issue if you want to keep the pool crystal-clear but Chester certainly is the only collection that could pull off a superior exhibit.
 
Panthera1981 said:
Completely agree. UK Common hippo exhibits are incredibly archaic and outdated both in thought and design. I’m guessing filtration costs would be the issue if you want to keep the pool crystal-clear but Chester certainly is the only collection that could pull off a superior exhibit.
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Yes, you are definitely right. However, it will be interesting to see YWP's attempt if their new zone contains Pygmy Hippos.
 
britishzoofan said:
Yes, you are definitely right. However, it will be interesting to see YWP's attempt if their new zone contains Pygmy Hippos.
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I don’t think exhibits for Pygmy are an issue, it’s those for Commons I’ve got major beef with! It feels like the UK is very much still stuck in the Dark Ages when it comes to keeping Common hippopotamus.

Fair enough it’s a semi-aquatic animal, but so are Polar bear and look what’s happened to the evolution of Polar bear exhibits in last 10 years in the UK!
 
Panthera1981 said:
I don’t think exhibits for Pygmy are an issue, it’s those for Commons I’ve got major beef with! It feels like the UK is very much still stuck in the Dark Ages when it comes to keeping Common hippopotamus.

Fair enough it’s a semi-aquatic animal, but so are Polar bear and look what’s happened to the evolution of Polar bear exhibits in last 10 years in the UK!
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The trouble with Common Hippo is it doesn't have the cachet of an iconic species like Polar Bear, nor is it endangered like say, Indian Rhino, plus with water filtration etc its one of the most expensive species to exhibit in good modern housing. Perhaps all contributary factors to why Common Hippo exhibits here never get improved?
 
Congratulations to Longleat who comfortably won the poll for Best UK Hippopotamus enclosure. Their exhibit certainly stood out from the rest and the sheer size of the exhibits gave them the win. A mention also to Whipsnade who came second with a sizeable amount of votes and combined with their performance in the Pygmy Hippo poll can probably claim to currently have the best set of Hippopotami exhibits in the UK.

Longleat: 58.1%
Whipsnade: 29.0%
WMSP: 6.5%
Flamingo Land: 6.5%
 
Amazing how many people are blinded by the illusion of space given by a safari park,look at the indoor housing and its all barely adequate for them,but the zoochat experts have spoken,so they must be best.
 
zoogiraffe said:
Amazing how many people are blinded by the illusion of space given by a safari park,look at the indoor housing and its all barely adequate for them,but the zoochat experts have spoken,so they must be best.
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First of all thanks for giving your views on the enclosures in question. In future if you present your argument whilst the poll is open it may make people change there mind, especially with your reputation on the site as an extremely knowledgeable member.

Secondly, as I've said it is just for fun and just because a certain exhibit has won that doesn't mean they are the best it is just the view of members on the site.
 
zoogiraffe said:
Simple Whipsnade Okay indoor,excellent outdoor,and spacious off show indoor.But don't add my vote to the total as unless I vote in time it shouldn't count.
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I'm more than happy to add your vote a wider sample should give a more representative result. Out of interest in terms of the other polls did you agree with the winners?
 
Question for those who voted Longleat. How are the hippos and sea lions together? It seems like such a strange pairing.
 
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